R.S.V.P Matthew 21:1-14
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Introduction
Introduction
We have just celebrated the Saviors birth this last week and I have the privilege to proclaim God’s word just before the start of a new year.
The New Year is analogous with a “fresh start” but the New Year is notoriously celebrated on December 31, with a myriad of celebrations and parties. I want to tell you this morning that God enjoys a good party and He is throwing a party that is invite only, and all are invited.
The passage of Scripture this morning will show you the PERSON of GOD, and THE PURPOSE of GOD
I will never forget my first invitation to a party. It was around the second grade, and I recieved my invitation from classmate Michael Triplett. The invitation told who was hosting, what was being celebrated, where the party was located, and when it started and ended. But at the bottom it contained the letters R.S.V.P. For my 2nd grade mind I thought it was a word as I feverishly tried to pronounce by combining the letters. I finally asked my mother how to pronounce the letters. She informed me of the pronunciation and that the purpose was that when you saw RSVP you call to announce that you will be attending the event. It wasn’t until years later when I met my wife that I learned that R.S.V.P. stood for “Responde sil vous plait”. In other words “respond please.” When you get the invitation be so kind to let me know if you are coming or not.
1 Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying, 2 “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son.
Matthew 22:1-2
I. Prophet (1-2) (The Host)
I. Prophet (1-2) (The Host)
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Parable: Symbolic story that communicates a spiritual truth
The Jews doubted Jesus as King, Priest and Prophet. “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave You this authority?”
23 When He entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to Him while He was teaching, and said, “By what authority are You doing these things, and who gave You this authority?”
Matthew 21:23
This parable displays the Christ the Prophet.
This is an eschatological passage (Dealing with what was to come)
A WARNING passage
A parable of LOVE
Kingdom of Heaven: God’s Domain
King (God), Son (Jesus)
Wedding Feast:
Not Like our wedding traditions
Had to be a virgin ( “For I feel a divine jealously for you, since I betrohed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ”)
Betrothal meant legal marriage
An ancient Jewish Father would be most concerned about the wedding for his son
No expense was involved for the daughters wedding but the father had to pay a dowry to the prospective father-in-law.
The dowry could be cash kindness, or an act of service. “Christ bought us with his blood and made us free from the law”
The dowry was the purchase and the gift ( “The Holy Spirit is the down payment on our inheritance, which is applied toward our redemption as God’s own people, resulting in the honor of God’s glory.”)
A marriage was not between two individuals, but between two families (The Family of believers to Christ) “This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the Church”
The groom moved into his fathers house with his new bride () “ I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”
Jesus is King, Priest and Prophet
3 “And he sent out his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding feast, and they were unwilling to come. 4 “Again he sent out other slaves saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited, “Behold, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and my fattened livestock are all butchered and everything is ready; come to the wedding feast.” ’
II. Pursuant (3-4) (WHO)
II. Pursuant (3-4) (WHO)
Slaves- The Prophets of the OT
He was summoning the one who were already invitied
They rejected the offered hospitality of God
Think about being invited to an event by a celebrity or world leader. You would be honored and pleased to accept the invitation. How do you reject God?
In verse 4 it says “again” don’t miss that word!
God is Patient
He was patient with the Jews and he displayed his patience with you and me.
God is Pursuant
“Tell those who have been invited”
God is not desperate, God is generous!
God does not give up on men, He gives them over.
God is Provisional
“Tell those who have been invited, “Behold, I have prepared my dinner; oxen and my fattened livestock are all butchered and everything is ready; come to the wedding feast.”
God does not spare any expense!
The week long wedding of Isha Ambani and Anand Piramal . Cost 100 Million, at least (Five) Five Star Hotels, 100 Private Jets to Charter guests, A War room to manage logistics, and two performances by Beyonce. The wedding will be held in the Fathers 27-story home which has a staff of 600 people, 6 floors of parking, and 3 helipads, and they will move into their 64 million dollar diamond themed home home.
“In my father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.
“Come and get it, the taste that brings dogs to dinner” “Taste and see that the Lord is good!”
5 “But they paid no attention and went their way, one to his own farm, another to his business, 6 and the rest seized his slaves and mistreated them and killed them. 7 “But the king was enraged, and he sent his armies and destroyed those murderers and set their city on fire.
Matthew 22:5-7
III. Passionate (5-7)
III. Passionate (5-7)
The Passiveness of the People
Apathetic- without purpose (Self-interest/self-willed)
The bible says “the fool says in his heart there is no God. But, the biggest fool is one who says there is a God and doesn’t live like it.
Rejection
Isaiah, Amos, Micah, Habakkuk, and Jeremiah all killed by the Jews.
The Passion of God
God loves! And because He loves he demonstrates his emotion. And His emotion brings about His Grace and Justice.
“For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, and He scourges every son whom He receives.”
God allowed Jerusalem to be set on fire by Babylon in 586 B.C. and in 70 A.D. by Rome.
There was a uniformed hostility toward the message and person of Jesus then and until now.
Their shortsightedness and self-interest brought about the discipline of God. This parable was a preview into the future if this rejection continued.
8 “Then he said to his slaves, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. 9 ‘Go therefore to the main highways, and as many as you find there, invite to the wedding feast.’ 10 “Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered together all they found, both evil and good; and the wedding hall was filled with dinner guests.
Matthew 22:
IV. Persistent (8-10) (WHEN/WHERE)
IV. Persistent (8-10) (WHEN/WHERE)
The book of Hosea communicates the persistent love of God to the unworthy.
Hosea marries a prostitute who had extramarital affairs that produced produced children.h
Jezreel “God sows” (Hosea and Gomer)
Lo-ruhamah (unloved)
Lo-ammi (not my people)
Hosea still makes provision to restore Gomer’s moral character.
God makes an immediate call to people with no distinctions.
God extends his generosity to other people groups.
Undesirable and the elite
11 “But when the king came in to look over the dinner guests, he saw a man there who was not dressed in wedding clothes, 12 and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without wedding clothes?’ And the man was speechless. 13 “Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14 “For many are called, but few are chosen.”
V. Particular (11-14) (ATTIRE)
V. Particular (11-14) (ATTIRE)
In ancient weddings the host was said to supply the guest with their attire for the wedding.
when you are invited
INVITED means to be PRESENT and PARTICIPATE
This case is no different in that if you remember those who were invited by the highways were summoned to come immediately and had no time to change clothes.
so it is implied that the host would supply the clothing .
“Friend” - a conv way of addressing someone whose name you didn’t know.
Unless you come in to the Kingdom of God on the particular conditions set by God you will not enter in.
There is no defense
But there is a consequence
HELL is the consequence.
All are called but few choose.
Conclusion
Conclusion
How do we resolve the problem the problem that not only the Pharisees had but all those outside of Christ.
R.S.V.P. (Respond Please)
a Prophetic, Pursuant, Passionate, Persistent, and Particular God has been calling. RESPOND PLEASE!!
Put on the clothes that God has provided in the person of Jesus Christ
10 I will rejoice greatly in the Lord, My soul will exult in my God; For He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
I
7 “Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.” 8 It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. 9 Then he said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’ ” And he said to me, “These are true words of God.”
Jesus is calling us to a future banquet right now.
The Already-Not Yet!
The Future Now!
Altar Call
Altar Call
Have you gotten his invitation?!
Have you responded to Him!
On December 31st the World will have two groups. Those who will enter into 2019 and those who won’t.
Regardless of which group you can be prepared today.
Some of you are here this morning and you are in need of Prayer. You need God to move on situations in your life.